Nearly five millennia ago – circa 2700 BC – Khai Lung was a tutor to the early princes of China, the children of the Yellow Emperor. He taught them ruthless political maneuvering, the proper disposal of foes and rivals, Machiavellian manipulation, skill in warfare and deadly martial arts. He filled them with the myths and legends of China, and with the lore of magic they would need to deal with sorcerers – knowing both their strengths and the limits of their powers. The ruthless expansion of the realm, and the crushing of all opposition, under the second Emperor’s reign showed that he had taught them well – and brought unity and stability to the area that would become the core of China. Like Aristotle and Plato, across more than four thousand years, the echoes of his teachings continue to shape an empire.

After his death, he was enshrined as an ancestor, and eventually became known as a spirit-patron of scholars, teachers, and political manipulators. He was invoked so often, and across such a span of time, that he never crossed over into the deep realms of the dead. He’s gentler these days – four millennia of observation have shown him how much social bonds contribute to the stability of a realm – but there are still those who hear the whispers of Khai Lung.

After four and a half millennia as a ghost, plus the support of generations or respectful worship and offerings, Khai Lung is about as formidable as a human spirit can possibly become – mostly because he has adapted to the astral plane. He was a skilled martial artist while he was alive: now, thanks to the way which belief shapes the astral plane, his “martial arts maneuvers” work because he envisions them and believes that they do. He draws on the Akhasic level of the astral plane – the accumulated memories of the race – to update his ancient skills, and he manipulates the astral plane around himself. With the aid of an Anchor into reality – whether natural, such as a relic of his, or magically-created – he can extend the energies of the astral plane into the physical world. Unfortunately, he cannot directly affect or personally whatever is anchoring him: that would simply feed the energies of the astral plane back out of the earthly plane again.

Without such an anchor, he’s lucky if he can manage to appear in dreams – when the mind roams the fringes of the astral plane – or whisper occasional bits of advice or warnings into mortal minds.

With the talismans of the White Necromancer to fully anchor him in the material world once again, Khai Lung has returned to his first vocation – the teaching of the young. Fortunately, and at the request of his current “employer”, he’s turned down the ruthlessness and manipulation in favor of history, martial arts, and the basics of magic and chi powers. He’s even been willing to adapt to modern – and far less ruthless – methods of dealing with opponents.

2d6 Aid to Skills (Fade/min., Max. 60); Range: 0; Reduced END: Zero, +1; Autofire: 10 shots, ¾; Affects: Single Power of Special Effect, +¼; Trigger (When Fading): Set, +¼; Must join with a living spirit to provide this bonus, and so can only enhance one person at a time.: -2; Provides Fixed Skill Package: -2; Transdimensional (Astral to Material): Single Dimension, +½; This is the skills package he can bestow by temporarily joining with someone’s spirit. When he does, the “target” will immediately gain access to his martial arts skills.

Regeneration (7 BODY/5 hours); Regenerate: From Death, +20; Will not work if ties to earth severed: -1

(5)

Senses of Sight and Hearing extend into physical world

The Spirit Package includes +7 CP towards Mental Defense and Power Defense. Over time, points that were invested in minor physical talents – running, natural armor, etc – transfer into skills and either Mental Defence or Power Defense.

(10)

+10 STR; Since his martial arts is used with his Telekinesis, this entry provides the correct damage totals. It has no other effect.

Notes: As a Spirit, Khai Lung has no physical body, and is immune to most of the things that affect one. He’s still subject to mental attacks, magical barriers and spirit-transformations, and so on. If necessary, Astral Body = Ego, Str = Int, and Con = Pre. Pretty much all astral attacks are defended against via either Mental Defense or Power Defense. Spirits can be stunned, but it doesn’t last. Astral movement on the local scale is almost instantaneous.

As a more-or-less “normal” human, he’s at his limits – a total of 100 CP plus a 90-point power package. Khai Lung can still develop and change somewhat, but must discard 1 CP worth of old abilities for every1 CP worth of abilities purchased.

Welcome to the Multiverse!

Welcome to my roleplaying blog! The Emergence Campaign Weblog exists to easily distribute material for my players, in support of Eclipse: The Codex Persona and other Distant Horizons Games products, and to provide a home for my role-playing material - along with occasional player contributions - in general. Queries and special requests are welcome.

All contents Copyright 2006-2013, Paul M. Melroy

Here's a full post list: to find what you want more readily, use the index tabs at the top of the page.